ABC pulls ‘Cracker,’ ‘Sacred’

Two new series dropped from sked

ABC has pulled its first-year dramas “Cracker” and “Nothing Sacred” from the schedule for February sweeps, and it’s likely that only the latter will be back on the primetime slate in March.

“Cracker,” starring Robert Pastorelli in an Americanized version of the British series of the same name, aired its final episode for at least the time being on Jan. 24. The Granada Entertainment USA hour has ceased production after making 15 segs, only 11 of which have been aired.

An ABC source denied Friday that the show is officially canceled but conceded that “Cracker” is all but gone.

Show suffered the misfortune of going up against “Seinfeld” in the Thursday 9 p.m. timeslot before being moved to Saturdays earlier this month. It has averaged a 4.5 Nielsen rating and 7 share in households since its fall debut, ranking 111th overall. In adults 18 to 49, its numbers are a 2.4 rating/6 share, placing it 114th in that key demo.

ABC plans a March return for “Nothing Sacred,” probably in the Saturday 9 p.m. slot. It, like “Cracker,” struggled to find an audience on Thursdays and has fared little better since moving to Saturday.

The Alphabet web plans to fill Saturdays during February with movies and specials.